Irish girls welcomed home by FAI boss
Navan girl Amanda McQuillan was one of the members of the Republic of Ireland u-19 team that was welcomed home this morning by FAI CEO John Delaney at Dublin Airport after their heroics at the UEFA Women's U19 Championships in Norway.
McQuillan was a nominee for the Young Meath Sportsperson of the Year at the annual awards last January in conjunction with the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotel Group and was a member of the panel in Norway for the last 10 days.
Dave Connell's 'History Girls' saw their incredible run to the last four of the European championship end at the semi-final stage when they were beaten (0-4) by the Netherlands last night.
It was the only defeat of the campaign for the Irish and Delaney passed on the congratulations of the entire Irish football community to Connell and his squad.
'What Dave, his staff and his players have achieved over the past 10 days has been absolutely fantastic and it is a testimony to the improvements that have been made across the board in women's football in Ireland in the past eight years,' said Delaney.
'Standards have been raised across the country because of the work put in by coaches like Dave, senior international team manager Sue Ronan, our women's development officer Gerard Dunne and his department allied with the dedicated coaches in women's football around Ireland.
'The performances the girls have put in throughout the year were all the more impressive when you consider the numbers playing in more established countries in women's football including the Netherlands, Spain, England and Sweden who they met this week.
'Ireland's victories over the Spanish, England and Swedes in Norway were a tremendous achievement and all of the Irish girls should be rightly proud of how the represented their country.'
The Deputy Lord Mayor, Larry O’Toole, said: “I am delighted to be here to welcome home the Irish Women’s Under-19 Soccer team. This team has made history by being the first ever Irish Under-19 women’s team to reach the semi-final of the UEFA European Championships.
'I heartily congratulate everyone involved in making the team’s involvement in these Championships so successful, we have all been proudly watching with keen interest and cheering them on over the last ten days. I wish them every success in their future endeavours – with this level of achievement behind them I’m sure they will go from strength to strength.”
After welcoming the team home at the airport a reception took place at the Maldron Hotel Dublin Airport where the squad were presented with their UEFA certificates and team photograph as mementos of a marvellous performance.